▲ The Korea Exchange begins operating an after-hours trading session on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Volatility jumped and price control mechanisms were activated at a much higher level on the first day of after-hours trading on the Korea Exchange (KRX), according to the bourse operator Tuesday.

The KRX launched the after-hours trading from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday as it seeks to raise global competitiveness and expand trading opportunities for investors.

A total of 72.24 million shares worth 1.8 trillion won (US$1.3 billion) were traded during the four-hour session, compared with some 905 million shares worth 25.8 trillion won traded during Monday's regular trading session.

During the after-hours trading, so-called volatility interruption mechanisms were activated 1,637 times, compared with 400 times during the regular trading session.

Market watchers attributed the surge in volatility to a lack of liquidity while retail investors were allowed to buy or sell a wide range of stocks in real time.

Most stocks listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index and the KOSDAQ markets are available for trading during the after-hours session.

However, investors are banned from trading exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes during the four-hour session, given concerns about market volatility, the KRX said.

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